Description: A 0.405 gram piece of Mars ejected by a meteorite impacting the surface of the Red Planet and hurling it to Earth. A lovely 0.142 gram specimen of a very rare part of the SNC group of martian meteorites known as "Nakhlite" NWA 10645.

Whenever possible, Top Meteorite acquires meteorites direct from the source allowing us to offer exceptional quality specimens at very reasonable prices.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This meteorite has an ophitic texture consisting of 75% augite, 15% feldspar, and 5% olivine. Some augite crystals are prismatic and up to 2 mm in length. There are two feldspars present, oligoclase and alkali feldspar, no maskelynite was observed; feldspar commonly occupies interstices between augite grains. Augites show igneous zoning with Fs-rich rims, olivines are fayalitic and fairly uniform in composition. Apatite, ilmenite, and titanomagnetite were observed.

Classification: Martian (nakhlite). This is a martian meteorite based Fe/Mn of augite and olivine, and on the composition of the plagioclase. It is a nakhlite based on the high percentage of augite present. Paired with NWA 10153.

Specimens: 2.5 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM; Dustin Dickens holds the main mass.